Historic Plymouth hotel to close for good
The Duke of Cornwall first opened as a hotel in 1865
Plymouth's Duke of Cornwall Hotel has closed and all staff have been made redundant.
It is understood the business became financially unviable during the coronavirus pandemic.
The hotel has been shut during lockdown, but now the decision has been made to close it for good.
Greatest Hits Radio understands around 65 members of staff have lost their jobs.
A spokesperson for the hotel said:
"It's with tremendous sadness that we can confirm the closure of the Duke of Cornwall hotel.
"Industries across the country have been heavily impacted by the coronavirus crisis, and the hospitality sector has been among the hardest hit.
"With repeated enforced closures due to lockdown measures, combined with reduced revenues and additional costs caused by social distancing requirements, all of which has been underpinned by unavoidable, ongoing overheads, we're in a position where it’s sadly no longer financially viable to continue.
"We've explored every avenue in a bid to stave off having to close permanently, but given the enormous financial strain of the pandemic we’re at the point where this is simply no longer possible and we’ve had to cease trading.
"We’d like to express our immense gratitude and sincerest sympathies to the staff at the Duke of Cornwall, who have been enormously understanding during recent months. It is our hope that they will be able to take advantage of the Government Insolvency Service."
The news has left many people wondering what will happen to this much-loved building.